IN A case of art reflecting life, Hugh Bonneville tries to avoid a ‘fracas’ in the new series of W1A

As Hugh Bonneville reprises his role in the Twenty Twelve sequel, W1A, the actor reveals the latest series will, once again, prove to have an uncanny knack of predicting real events.

When the original series – set against the backdrop of the Olympic games – portrayed the PR disaster of the malfunctioning countdown-to-the-games clock, great hilarity ensued when the real clock in Trafalgar Square stopped a day after it aired.

Now it would appear the hugely talented W1A writer, John Morton, had a crystal ball when it came to the scandal that has engulfed the BBC in recent weeks with the sacking of Jeremy Clarkson.

W1A is about the dynamics of modern management speak and our fantastic ability to say an awful lot without meaning anything!

Hugh Bonneville

While the show doesn’t go as far as featuring a “fracas” over a steak dinner, Hugh – who plays director of values Ian Fletcher – laughs as he admits the second series of the BBC-set satire comedy does involve a story about the former Top Gear presenter.

“John Morton, our writer, has this uncanny ability to, if not predict events, then to get it in the right ball park. It happened three times with Twenty Twelve and there is a little joke made about Jeremy Clarkson with great affection, I hasten to add, in this series,” explains the 51-year-old actor.

On his character, Hugh admits, “I am very fond of Ian. He tries to do his best in a sea of fools. This show is about the dynamics of modern management speak and our fantastic ability to say an awful lot without meaning anything!”

Jessica Hynes and Sarah Parish will be returning, alongside Hugh, for the second series, and guest stars include Sophie Raworth and Evan Davis.

As well as a story about Jeremy, W1A also touches on the thorny issue of other TV channels trying to pinch the BBC’s sporting jewels and the promotion of Wimbledon on the BBC.

“We were given far more access this year,” says Hugh. “It’s either incredibly generous or foolish of the BBC, as it must be a pain in the neck if you are a BBC employee and you have got these numpties with cameras wandering around!”

Sarah Parish, who plays head of output Anna Rampton, thinks the reason why the series has proved to be a success is the fact the spoof documentary reflects life in many offices, not just the BBC.

“It is very close to the knuckle,” she says. “My character, Anna, is one of those professional people who doesn’t have a creative bone in her body and you do wonder how on earth she has got to where she is. She wants to work her way right up to the top whatever.

I don’t think she has got any friends… I wouldn’t want to be friends with her!”

The first episode features a security alert when a rucksack is left outside a café hours before an impending visit by Prince Charles to the BBC. “Jessica’s character leaves a bag outside with Sue Barker’s head on it,” chuckles Sarah.

“They are trying to promote Wimbledon and Prince Charles is expected. The police are called and they think it is a bomb.”

Sarah admits she loves being a part of the series and has been lucky to have played such a variety of roles during the course of her acting career.

“I know how easy it is to be typecast and how it is very important as an actor to make radical decisions,” she adds.

“Sometimes you might want to take a job as it pays really well, but it might be a character you have just played – and so you have to say ‘no, I am going to do theatre instead’.”

For both Sarah and Hugh, the opportunity to play a character so different to many of their other acting roles is a big pull. And for Hugh, in particular, the satire offered by W1A is a welcome change ahead of the hard slog of filming Downton Abbey. But as he admits himself, it will be all change this year when the last ever series of the ITV drama is aired.

“We are filming the final episodes now,” he says as he reflects on the remarkable success of the hugely popular Sunday night period drama series.

“It’s with great fondness that one says farewell to a much-loved show. It is going to feel very strange when it finishes and it will leave a huge hole in all our lives.”

He says it is too early to say what he will do after Downton finishes. “It’s been a busy eight months,” he admits. “I want to put my feet up and enjoy the farewell to Downton and celebrate.

“Who knows whether we will be making more of W1A. We will have to wait and see if the BBC recommission it.”

As for Sarah, she is busy working on a new play in Chichester. “It’s hard to keep in touch once we finish filming,” she adds. “We have all got kids now and so it is different. Life does change.

You do the job and then you get on with life afterwards. But it’s a small business and you bump into people all the time, which is really lovely.”